Bill and June Barlow have seen flood waters before from their Sand Canyon home on Saddleback Road, but they never expected to see debris, loose metal gate and branches cascade through their backyard.

“(It was) right up against the house,” June said, recalling how the water filled up their backyard.

June Barlow was filming the rushing river outside of their home when she had to put down the camera, realizing the water was seeping through their back door.

Weather officials recorded over 2.8 inches of rain at a Saugus observation point, and nearly 4 inches of rain in the Newhall area, as of 5:40 a.m. Saturday, according to National Weather Service officials.

The Barlows awoke Saturday to a backyard littered with branches, broken pieces of fence and mud.

By 8 a.m. Saturday, with the help of neighbors and friends from their church, they formed a group of 60 to clean out their backyard.

“Half the people left their shovels here just in case they needed to come back,” said June jokingly.

“That,” Bill added, looking at the clearance in his yard, “doesn’t look bad at all.”

Within about two and a half hours, the group of volunteers cleared the backyard of most of the debris, leaving the Barlow home full of gratitude instead.

“It’s amazing that our neighbors came to help,” Bill said. “We’re very grateful.”